Edge-lit light source, backlight module and display devices

ABSTRACT

An edge-lit light source includes at least two light guide layers and one or more light-emitting elements. Side surfaces of each layer include a light incident surface and a light exit surface. The layer includes a bending region. A light-emitting surface of each element faces a light incident surface of at least one layer. The layer includes first and second light guide portions. An end surface of the first light guide portion is the light exit surface. The second light guide portion includes at least two light guide bars each including a bending portion and an extending portion. A surface of the extending portion is a light incident sub-surface. The light-emitting surface of each element faces at least one light incident sub-surface. Second light guide portions of the at least two layers are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to a thickness direction of the first light guide portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/792,445, filed on Jul. 13, 2022, which claims priority toInternational Patent Application No. PCT/CN2021/104521 filed on Jul. 5,2021, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No.202010811924.5 filed on Aug. 13, 2020, which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of display technologies, inparticular, to an edge-lit light source, a backlight module and displaydevices.

BACKGROUND

Liquid crystal display (LCD) panels may be widely used in displaydevices such as notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs),flat-screen televisions and mobile phones due to advantages of lowradiation, small volume, low power consumption and the like.

SUMMARY

In an aspect, an edge-lit light source is provided. The edge-lit lightsource includes at least two light guide layers arranged in a stack, andat least one light-emitting element. Side surfaces of each light guidelayer include a light incident surface and a light exit surface, and thelight guide layer includes a bending region located between the lightincident surface and the light exit surface. A light-emitting surface ofeach light-emitting element faces a light incident surface of at leastone light guide layer.

The light guide layer includes a first light guide portion and a secondlight guide portion connected to each other. An end surface of the firstlight guide portion away from the second light guide portion is thelight exit surface. The second light guide portion includes at least twolight guide bars, and each light guide bar includes a bending portionconnected to the first light guide portion and an extending portionconnected to the bending portion. A surface of the extending portionopposite to an end of the extending portion connected to the bendingportion is a light incident sub-surface. The light-emitting surface ofeach light-emitting element faces at least one light incidentsub-surface. The bending region of the light guide layer includes all ofthe bending portions of the light guide layer.

Second light guide portions of the at least two light guide layers arearranged in sequence in a second direction. The second direction isperpendicular to a thickness direction of the first light guide portion.

In some embodiments, the bending portions of the light guide layer arearranged in sequence in a first direction. The first direction isperpendicular to a thickness direction of the first light guide portion.The extending portions of the light guide layer extend in the firstdirection, and the extending portions are arranged in a stack.

In some embodiments, of the one or more light-emitting elements, atleast one light-emitting element corresponding to the light guide layeris disposed on a side of the light guide layer in the first direction.

In some embodiments, of the one or more light-emitting elements, atleast one light-emitting element corresponding to a same light guidelayer is located on a same side of the same light guide layer in thefirst direction. Of the same light guide layer, bending radiuses ofbending portions sequentially increase in a direction from a side of asecond light guide portion proximate to the corresponding light-emittingelement to a side of the second light guide portion away from thecorresponding light-emitting element.

In some embodiments, the extending portions of the light guide layer arelocated on at least one side of the first light guide portion in athickness direction of the first light guide portion.

In some embodiments, the extending portions of the light guide layer arelocated on a same side of the first light guide portion in a thicknessdirection of the first light guide portion, and the light incidentsub-surfaces of the extending portions constitute the light incidentsurface of the light guide layer. The light incident surface is locatedon a side of two opposite sides of the first light guide portion in thefirst direction, and the light incident surface faces a light-emittingsurface of a single light-emitting element of the one or morelight-emitting elements.

In some embodiments, the edge-lit light source further includes alight-guide-layer shaping member. The light-guide-layer shaping memberhas a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to eachother, and a plurality of communication slots penetrating through thefirst main surface and the second main surface. Each bending portion ofthe light guide layer passes through a single communication slot of theplurality of communication slots, the extending portions of the lightguide layer are proximate to the first main surface, and the first lightguide portion of the light guide layer is proximate to the second mainsurface.

In some embodiments, a single side wall of the communication slot isarc-shaped. The bending portion passes through the communication slotand attaches to the arc-shaped side wall, and is configured to have abending degree capable of keeping a total reflection state of light raysinside the bending portion.

In some embodiments, the edge-lit light source further includes a firstreflective adhesive and/or a second reflective adhesive. The firstreflective adhesive is disposed between the first main surface and anextending portion of the light guide layer closest to the first mainsurface. The second reflective adhesive is disposed between the secondmain surface and the first light guide portion.

In some embodiments, the light-guide-layer shaping member includes atleast one first groove and a second groove and/or a third groove. The atleast one first groove and the second groove are disposed in the firstmain surface, and the second groove is located on a side of the at leastone first groove. The extending portions of the light guide layer arelocated in a first groove of the at least one first groove, and the oneor more light-emitting elements are located in the second groove. Thethird groove is disposed in the second main surface, and at least aportion of the first light guide portion is located in the third groove.

In some embodiments, the edge-lit light source further includes a firstcover body and/or a second cover body. The first cover body covers theat least one first groove and the second groove. The second cover bodycovers the third groove.

In some embodiments, the first cover body and the second light guideportion of the light guide layer have a gap therebetween; and/or thesecond cover body and the first light guide portion of the light guidelayer have a gap therebetween.

In some embodiments, the first light guide portion includes a firstportion and a second portion. The first portion has the light exitsurface. The second portion is located between the first portion and thesecond light guide portion and in a bent shape. The bending region ofthe light guide layer further includes the second portion of the firstlight guide portion of the light guide layer.

In some embodiments, the first light guide portion further includes athird portion located between the second portion and the second lightguide portion. The third portion and the first portion are substantiallyparallel to each other, and the third portion and the first portion arelocated on a same side of the second portion proximate to the secondlight guide portion.

In some embodiments, the edge-lit light source further includes alaminating adhesive disposed between two adjacent light guide layers. Arefractive index of the laminating adhesive is substantially same as arefractive index of the two adjacent light guide layers; or thelaminating adhesive is a reflective adhesive.

In some embodiments, the edge-lit light source further includes areflective coating disposed on an exposed surface of the bending region.

In some embodiments, the edge-lit light source further includes alight-absorbing coating disposed on a surface of the reflective coatingaway from the exposed surface.

In another aspect, a backlight module is provided. The backlight moduleincludes a light guide plate, and the edge-lit light source as describedin any one of the above embodiments. A light exit surface of theedge-lit light source is matched with at least a portion of a sidesurface of the light guide plate, and the light exit surface of theedge-lit light source faces the at least a portion of the side surfaceof the light guide plate. The light exit surface of the edge-lit lightsource includes the light exit surface of the light guide layer.

In yet another aspect, a display device is provided. The display deviceincludes a display panel and the backlight module as described in anyone of the above embodiments. Two opposite sides of the display panelare a display side and a non-display side respectively. The backlightmodule is disposed on the non-display side of the display panel. Or thelight guide plate in the backlight module is disposed on the displayside of the display panel, and the edge-lit light source in thebacklight module extends to the non-display side of the display panel.

In yet another aspect, a display device is provided. The display deviceincludes a display panel and the edge-lit light source as described inany one of the above embodiments. A light exit surface of the edge-litlight source matched with at least a portion of a side surface of thedisplay panel, and the light exit surface of the edge-lit light sourcefaces the at least a portion of the side surface of the display panel.The light exit surface of the edge-lit light source includes the lightexit surface of the light guide layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe technical solutions in the present disclosure moreclearly, accompanying drawings to be used in some embodiments of thepresent disclosure will be introduced briefly below. Obviously, theaccompanying drawings to be described below are merely accompanyingdrawings of some embodiments of the present disclosure, and a personhaving ordinary skill in the art may obtain other drawings according tothese drawings. In addition, the accompanying drawings to be describedbelow may be regarded as schematic diagrams, and are not limitations onan actual size of a product, an actual process of a method and actualtimings of signals to which the embodiments of the present disclosurerelate.

FIG. 1A is a top view showing a structure of a light strip and a lightguide plate that are mounted in cooperation in the related art;

FIG. 1B is a front view showing the structure of the light strip and thelight guide plate that are mounted in cooperation in the related art;

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a structure of an edge-lit light source, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a structure of another edge-lit lightsource, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a structure of a single light guide layer,in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a structure of a plurality of light guidelayers arranged in a stack, in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3C is a diagram showing an exploded structure of alight-guide-layer shaping member, a first cover body and a second coverbody, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3D is a diagram showing a structure of a light-guide-layer shapingmember, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3E is a cross-sectional view of the light-guide-layer shapingmember taken along the direction A-A′ in FIG. 3D;

FIG. 3F is a diagram showing a structure of a light-guide-layer shapingmember assembled with light-emitting elements, light guide layers, and alight guide plate (or display panel), in accordance with someembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3G is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3D taken along the directionB-B′;

FIG. 3H is a diagram showing a structure of a light-guide-layer shapingmember assembled with a first cover body, a second cover body, alight-emitting element, a light guide layer, a light guide plate (ordisplay panel), in accordance with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3I is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3H taken along the directionC-C′;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a light guide layer mountedin cooperation with a light guide plate (or display panel) in anunfolded state, in accordance with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a structure of a light-emitting element, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a structure of a light guide layer providedwith a reflective coating and a light-absorbing coating, in accordancewith some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a structure of a backlight module (ordisplay device), in accordance with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a structure of another backlight module, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7C is a diagram showing a structure of another display device, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7D is a diagram showing a structure of yet another display device,in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7E is a diagram showing a structure of yet another display device,in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7F is a diagram showing a structure of yet another display device,in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a structure of a display panel, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Technical solutions in some embodiments of the present disclosure willbe described clearly and completely with reference to the accompanyingdrawings below. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some butnot all embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodimentsobtained by a person having ordinary skill in the art based on theembodiments of the present disclosure shall be included in theprotection scope of the present disclosure.

Unless the context requires otherwise, the term “comprise” and otherforms thereof such as the third-person singular form “comprises” and thepresent participle form “comprising” throughout the description and theclaims are construed as an open and inclusive meaning, i.e., “including,but not limited to”. In the description of the specification, the termssuch as “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “exemplary embodiments”,“example”, “specific example” or “some examples” are intended toindicate that specific features, structures, materials orcharacteristics related to the embodiment(s) or example(s) are includedin at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure.Schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer tothe same embodiment(s) or example(s). In addition, the specificfeatures, structures, materials or characteristics may be included inany one or more embodiments or examples in any suitable manner.

Hereinafter, the terms “first” and “second” are used for descriptivepurposes only, and are not to be construed as indicating or implying therelative importance or implicitly indicating the number of indicatedtechnical features. Thus, features defined with “first” and “second” mayexplicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In thedescription of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the term“a/the plurality of” means two or more unless otherwise specified.

The phrase “at least one of A, B and C” has a same meaning as the phrase“at least one of A, B or C”, and they both include the followingcombinations of A, B and C: only A, only B, only C, a combination of Aand B, a combination of A and C, a combination of B and C, and acombination of A, B and C.

The phrase “A and/or B” includes the following three combinations: onlyA, only B, and a combination of A and B.

The use of the phrase “applicable to” or “configured to” herein means anopen and inclusive language, which does not exclude devices that areapplicable to or configured to perform additional tasks or steps.

In addition, the use of the phrase “based on” is meant to be open andinclusive, since a process, step, calculation or other action that is“based on” one or more of the stated conditions or values may, inpractice, be based on additional conditions or values beyond thosestated.

As used herein, the terms such as “substantially” or “approximately”include a stated value and an average value within an acceptable rangeof deviation of a particular value. The acceptable range of deviation isdetermined by a person of ordinary skill in the art, in consideration ofmeasurement in question and errors associated with the measurement of aparticular quantity (i.e., limitations of a measurement system).

Exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to sectionalviews and/or plan views as idealized exemplary drawings. In theaccompanying drawings, thickness of layers and regions are enlarged forclarity. Therefore, variations in shapes with respect to theaccompanying drawings due to, for example, manufacturing technologiesand/or tolerances may be envisaged. Therefore, the exemplary embodimentsshould not be construed as being limited to the shapes of the regionsshown herein, but including shape deviations due to, for example,manufacturing. For example, an etched region shown in a rectangularshape generally has a curved feature. Therefore, the regions shown inthe accompanying drawings are schematic in nature, and their shapes arenot intended to show actual shapes of regions in a device, and are notintended to limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments.

A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel itself in a display device does notemit light, so a backlight source needs to be provided in order to makea content displayed by the LCD panel be seen. Design forms of thebacklight mainly include two types: an edge-lit light source and aback-lit light source. The back-lit light source is usually disposedbelow the LCD panel, but since the back-lit light source needs torealize light mixing through multi-layer prisms, an overall thickness ofthe display device is large, and in turn, a thin and light design of thedisplay device is difficult to realize. The edge-lit light source may bedirectly disposed on a side of the LCD panel, or may be cooperate with alight guide plate disposed below the LCD panel and be disposed on a sideof the light guide plate. Therefore, the edge-lit light source may solvea problem of the large thickness of the display device caused by theback-lit light source. However, a distance of light-mixing of theedge-lit light source is short, and a hotspot problem is prone to occur.If the distance of light mixing of the edge-lit light source isincreased, a bezel of the display device will be enlarged, so that anarrow bezel design of the display device is difficult to realize.Therefore, the distance of light mixing of the edge-lit light source anda light incident effect are mutually restricted, which becomes a designbottleneck of a narrow bezel requirement.

The hotspot is also known as firefly spot. For example, referring toFIGS. 1A and 1B, light-emitting diode (LED) lights 01 are arranged witha certain gap value to form a light strip, and the light strip isdirectly disposed on a side surface of the light guide plate 02. The LEDlight 01 is a point light source, and light intensity distribution ofwhich is similar to Lambert body, that is, a light-emitting state isfan-shaped emission and has a certain light exit angle, therefore, theLED lights will form light-emitting regions with different brightness ona light incident side of the light guide plate. A phenomenon ofalternating light and dark on the light incident side is called thehotspot or firefly spot. If the hotspot cannot end within a blockedlight incident path (i.e., a non-effective light exit region A1 of thelight guide plate 02), the hotspot will appear an effective light exitregion A2 of the light guide plate 02 (corresponding to a display areaof the LCD panel), and in turn, an image displayed by the LCD panel hasalternate light and dark, this image defect is called a hotspot defect.Moreover, after light rays enter the light guide plate 02, a light rayfrom the center of each LED light with a strongest light intensity (thelight as shown by the arrowed line in FIG. 1B) is difficult to beeffectively utilized, and the light rays distributed as the Lambert bodyhave a poor scattering effect inside the light guide plate, so that thehotspot phenomenon is further aggravated.

Based on this, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide anedge-lit light source 100. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the edge-litlight source 100 includes at least one light guide layer 10 and at leastone light-emitting element 20. That is, the edge-lit light source 100may include only a single light guide layer 10, or may include aplurality of light guide layers 10 arranged in a stack (e.g., two lightguide layers 10, five light guide layers 10 or ten light guide layers10). Furthermore, the edge-lit light source 100 may include only asingle light-emitting element 20, or may include a plurality oflight-emitting elements 20 (e.g., two light-emitting elements 20, fivelight-emitting elements 20, or ten light-emitting elements 20).

For at least one light guide layer 10, as shown in FIG. 2A, sidesurfaces S10 of the light guide layer 10 include a light incidentsurface 11 and a light exit surface 12, and the light guide layer 10includes a bending region N located between the light incident surface11 and the light exit surface 12. Furthermore, a light-emitting surfaceS20 of each light-emitting element 20 faces a light incident surface 11of at least one light guide layer 10. With such a design, light raysemitted by the light-emitting element 20 may enter the light guide layer10 from the light incident surface 11 of the light guide layer 10, andthen exit from the light exit surface 12 of the light guide layer 10after passing through the bending region N of the light guide layer 10.

The light-emitting element 20 may be a LED light.

By providing the bending region N between the light incident surface 11and the light exit surface 12 in the light guide layer 10 in theedge-lit light source 100, in a case where the edge-lit light source 100is applied to a display device, space occupied by the edge-lit lightsource 100 in a bezel region of the display device may be reduced, sothat the display device may realize the narrow bezel design. Inaddition, while the display device realizes the narrow bezel design,since the edge-lit light source 100 includes the light guide layer 10having the bending region N, a distance of light mixing of the edge-litlight source 100 may be increased, and a scattering effect of light raysin the light guide layer 10 may be enhanced, so that the light rays maybe fully mixed in the light guide layer 10 and then exit, as a result,it is conducive to ameliorating the hotspot phenomenon.

In some examples, a bending degree of the bending region N is configuredso as not to destroy a total reflection state of light rays therein. Forexample, a bending radius of the bending region N may be set to be notless than its own thickness. In this way, it may prevent the totalreflection state of the light rays in the bending region N from beingbroken, so that leakage of the light rays in the bending region N may beprevented, and light guide efficiency of the light guide layer 10 isimproved.

The bending region N may have various arrangements. The arrangements ofthe bending region N will be described below with reference to someembodiments.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2A, the light guide layer 10includes a first light guide portion 1 and a second light guide portion2.

An end surface of the first light guide portion 1 away from the secondlight guide portion 2 is the light exit surface 12.

It will be noted that the light exit surface 12 may be configured invarious shapes, so that it may be adapted to light guide plates (ordisplay panels) of various shapes. For example, in a case where thelight exit surface 12 is a curved surface, it may be matched and alignedwith a light guide plate (or display panel) whose side surface is acurved surface, so that light rays may enter the light guide plate (ordisplay panel). In addition, it will be understood that the light exitsurface 12 is not limited to be the curved surface. That is, the lightexit surface may be a flat surface; alternatively, the light exitsurface 12 may include both a flat surface and a curved surface;alternatively, the light exit surface 12 may be in other irregularshape. That is, it only needs to ensure that the light exit surface 12match and align with a side surface of a corresponding light guide plate(or display panel), which will not be limited in the present disclosure.

With continued reference to FIG. 2A, the second light guide portion 2includes at least two light guide bars 21, and each light guide bar 21includes a bending portion 211 connected to the first light guideportion 1 and an extending portion 212 connected to the bending portion211. A surface of each extending portion 212 opposite to an end of theextending portion 212 connected to a bending portion 211 is a lightincident sub-surface b. A light-emitting surface S20 of eachlight-emitting element 20 faces at least one light incident sub-surfaceb, that is, a light-emitting surface S20 of a light-emitting element 20may be arranged to face a single light incident sub-surface b (in thiscase, light rays emitted by each light-emitting element 20 may enter asingle light guide bar 21 through a single light incident sub-surfaceb); alternatively, the light-emitting surface S20 of the light-emittingelement 20 may be arranged to face two or more light incidentsub-surfaces b (in this case, the light rays emitted by eachlight-emitting element 20 may enter two or more light guide bars 21through two or more light incident sub-surfaces b).

The bending region N of each light guide layer 10 includes each bendingportion 211 of the light guide layer 10. When the light rays emitted bythe light-emitting element 20 enter each light guide bar 21, the lightrays pass through the extending portion 212 and the bending portion 211in sequence. And then, the light rays are directed from the bendingportion 211 of the light guide bar 21 to the first light guide portion1. Therefore, in some of the above-mentioned embodiments, the distanceof light mixing of the light rays in the light guide layer 10 isincreased, and by providing the bending portion 211 to connect theextending portion 212 and the first light guide portion 1, the lightscattering effect may also be enhanced, so that the light is fully mixedin the light guide layer 10, as a result, the hotspot phenomenon isameliorated. In addition, by providing the bending portion 211, adimension of the light guide layer 10 in a second direction Y (as shownin FIGS. 2A and 2B) may be reduced. For example, the extending portion212 originally extending in the second direction Y may be turned over toextend in a first direction X (as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B)perpendicular to the second direction Y, so as to reduce a length of theedge-lit light source 100 in the second direction Y. In a case where theedge-lit light source is disposed in the display device, the displaydevice may realize the narrow bezel design.

For example, a bending degree of each bending portion 211 is configuredso as not to destroy a total reflection state of light rays therein. Forexample, the bending radius of each bending portion 211 may be set notless than its own thickness. In this way, the total reflection state ofthe light rays in each bending portion 211 may be prevented from beingbroken, so that leakage of the light rays in each bending portion 211may be prevented, and light guide efficiency of each bending portion 211is improved.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, extending portions 212 of thelight guide layer 10 are arranged in a stack (in a thickness direction Zof the first light guide portion 1 in the present embodiments). Withsuch an arrangement, it is conducive to reducing a range of a spaceoccupied by the second light guide portion 2, so that it is conducive torealizing a miniaturized design of the edge-lit light source 100, andfurther makes the display device adopting the edge-lit light source 100easy to realize the narrow bezel design.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, bending portions 211of each light guide layer 10 are arranged in sequence in the firstdirection X; and the extending portions 212 extend in the firstdirection X. With such a design, the at least two light guide bars 21 ofthe second light guide portion 2 of the light guide layer 10 arearranged in alignment; and of the second light guide portion 2 of thelight guide layer 10, the light incident sub-surfaces b of the extendingportions 212 of the at least two light guide bars 21 are easily alignedwith the light-emitting surface(s) of the light-emitting element(s) 20.

For example, referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, at least one side of thelight guide layer 10 in the first direction X is provided withlight-emitting element(s) 20 corresponding to the light guide layer 10.In some examples, one side of the light guide layer 10 in the firstdirection X is provided with light-emitting element(s) 20 correspondingto the light guide layer 10, and the other side of the light guide layer10 in the first direction X is provided with other light-emittingelement(s) 20 corresponding to the light guide layer 10. Here,“light-emitting element(s) 20” may refer to a single light-emittingelement 20, or may refer to two or more light-emitting elements 20;similarly, “other light-emitting element(s) 20” may refer to a singlelight-emitting element 20, or may refer to two or more light-emittingelements 20. In some other examples, one or more light-emitting elements20 corresponding to a same light guide layer 10 are disposed on a sameside of the light guide layer 10 in the first direction X. For example,FIGS. 2A and 2B show a case where the same light guide layer 10 isprovided with a single light-emitting element 20 corresponding to thelight guide layer 10 on the same side in the first direction X.

For example, referring to FIG. 2A, the first direction X isperpendicular to the thickness direction of the first light guideportion 1, and parallel to an interface M between the first light guideportion 1 and the second light guide portion 2.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, in a case where thelight-emitting element(s) 20 (the number of the light-emittingelement(s) 20 may be one, or two or more) corresponding to the samelight guide layer 10 are located on the same side of the light guidelayer 10 in the first direction X, for example, bending radiuses of thebending portions 211 of the light guide layer 10 sequentially increasein a direction from a side of the second light guide portion 2 proximateto the corresponding light-emitting element(s) 20 to a side of thesecond light guide portion 2 away from the corresponding light-emittingelement(s) 20. With such an arrangement, of the light guide layer 10,extending portions 212 connected to respective bending portions 211 areeasy to be stacked in the thickness direction of the first light guideportion 1. In other words, with such a design, in a case where theextending portions 212 of the light guide bars 21 are arranged in astack, the light rays may be more easily to pass through the bendingportions 211, and the light mixing effect may be improved.

Based on this, lengths of the extending portions 212 of each light guidelayer 10 may sequentially increase in a direction from a side of thesecond light guide portion 2 proximate to the first light guide portion1 to a side of the second light guide portion 2 away from the firstlight guide portion 1, so that the light incident sub-surfaces of theextending portions 212 of the light guide layer 10 are easily connectedtogether as a whole, so as to form the light incident surface 11 of thelight guide layer 10. For example, the light incident surface 11includes a flat surface and/or a curved surface. For example, the lightincident surface may only include the flat surface, or only the curvedsurface, or both the flat surface and the curved surface. Alternatively,the light incident surface may be in other irregular shape.

For example, the light incident sub-surface b of each extending portion212 may be located on either side thereof in the first direction X. Insome examples, light incident sub-surface(s) b of extending portion(s)212 of each light guide layer 10 are located on one side thereof in thefirst direction X, and light incident sub-surface(s) b of otherextending portion(s) 212 of the light guide layer 10 are located on theother side thereof in the first direction X. In this case, the lightincident sub-surface(s) b of the extending portion(s) 212 may face alight-emitting surface of a same light-emitting element 20, and thelight incident sub-surface(s) b of the other extending portion(s) 212may also face a light-emitting surface of another light-emitting element20. Here, “light incident sub-surface(s) b of extending portion(s) 212”may refer to a light incident sub-surface b of a single extendingportion, or may refer to light incident sub-surfaces b of two or moreextending portions 212; similarly, “light incident sub-surface(s) b ofother extending portion(s) 212” may refer to a light incidentsub-surface b of a single extending portion, or may refer to lightincident sub-surfaces b of two or more extending portions 212. In someother examples, referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the light incidentsub-surfaces b of the extending portions 212 in each light guide layer10 are located on a same side thereof in the first direction X. In thiscase, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the light incident sub-surfaces b ofthe extending portions 212 in the light guide layer 10 may all face alight-emitting surface of a same light-emitting element 20.

In some embodiments, referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, of a same light guidelayer 10, extending portions 212 are provided on at least one side of afirst light guide portion 1 in the thickness direction Z thereof. Thatis, of the same light guide layer 10, each extending portion 212 may belocated on either side of the first light guide portion 1 in thethickness direction thereof. In some examples, of the same light guidelayer 10, extending portion(s) 212 are located on one side of the firstlight guide portion 1 in the thickness direction Z thereof, and otherextending portion(s) are located on the other side of the first lightguide portion 1 in the thickness direction Z thereof. In this case,light incident sub-surface(s) b of the extending portion(s) 212 may facea light-emitting surface of a same light-emitting element 20, and lightincident sub-surface(s) b of the other extending portion(s) 212 may alsoface a light-emitting surface of another light-emitting element 20;alternatively, the light incident sub-surfaces b of the extendingportions 212 may all face a light-emitting surface of a samelight-emitting element 20. Here, “extending portion(s) 212” may refer toa single extending portion 212, or may refer to two or more extendingportions 212; similarly, “other extending portion(s) 212” may refer to asingle extending portion 212, or may refer to two or more extendingportions 212. In some other examples, referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B,extending portions 212 of each light guide layer 10 are located on asame side of the first light guide portion 1 in the thickness directionZ thereof. In this case, the light incident sub-surfaces b of theextending portions 212 may face a light-emitting surface of a singlelight-emitting element 20.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, in a case where theextending portions 212 of each light guide layer 10 are located on thesame side of the first light guide portion 1 in the thickness directionZ thereof, for example, refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the light incidentsub-surfaces b of the extending portions 212 constitute the lightincident surface 11 of the light guide layer 10 (e.g., in this case, thelight incident sub-surfaces b of the extending portions 212 of the lightguide layer 10 are flush or arranged in a substantial curved surface),the light incident surface 11 is located on a side of two opposite sidesof the light guide layer 10 in the first direction X, and the lightincident surface 11 faces a light-emitting surface of a samelight-emitting element 20. Here, the light incident surface 11 may onlyinclude a flat surface, or may only include a curved surface, or mayinclude both a flat surface and a curved surface; alternatively, thelight incident surface may be in other irregular shape. The presentdisclosure does not limit this, as long as the light incident surface 11may be matched and aligned with the side surface of the light guideplate (or display panel).

It will be noted that the light incident surface of each light guidelayer 10 includes light incident sub-surfaces b in the light guide layer10. The light rays emitted by each light-emitting element 20 may only bedirected to a single light incident sub-surface b of a light guide layer10, or may be directed to two or more light incident sub-surfaces b ofthe light guide layer 10, or may be directed to all light incidentsub-surfaces of the light guide layer 10. The present disclosure doesnot limit this. In addition, in a case where the edge-lit light source100 includes only a single light guide layer 10, the light exit surface12 of the light-guide layer 10 is a light exit surface of the edge-litlight source 100; and in a case where the edge-lit light source 100includes two or more light guide layers 10, light exit surfaces 12 ofthe light guide layers 10 together form the light exit surface of theedge-lit light source 100 (e.g., in this case, the light exit surfaces12 of the light guide layers 10 are flush or arranged in a substantialcurved surface). It will be understood that the present disclosure doesnot limit a shape and a size of the light exit surface, as long as thelight exit surface of the edge-lit light source 100 is matched andaligned with the side surface of the light guide plate (or displaypanel), and light rays may enter the light guide plate (or displaypanel). For example, the light exit surface of the edge-lit light source100 may include only a flat surface, or may include only a curvedsurface, or may include both a flat surface and a curved surface;alternatively, the light exit surface may be in other irregular shape.

The number of the light guide layer(s) 10 in the edge-lit light source100 may be determined by an alignment thickness. That is, in a casewhere a thickness of each light guide layer 10 is constant, the numberof the light guide layer(s) in the edge-lit light source 100 may bedetermined according to a thickness of the light guide plate (or displaypanel), so that the thicknesses of the light guide layer(s) and thelight guide plate are consistent or approximately consistent. In thisway, light rays may almost completely enter the light guide plate (ordisplay panel).

The number of the light-emitting element(s) 20 in the edge-lit lightsource 100 may be determined according to required brightness. That is,the number of the light-emitting element(s) 20 may be increased with anincrease of the required brightness.

For example, a material of each light guide layer 10 includes a flexiblematerial. For example, a flexible material with good light guideperformance may be selected. In some examples, the material of the lightguide layer 10 includes flexible materials such as polycarbonate (PC)and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In addition, the thickness of thelight guide layer 10 may be set to be not more than 100 μm. With such adesign, the light guide layer 10 is easy to be bent and aligned, and thelight guide layer 10 is not easily broken during bending.

For each light guide layer 10, referring to FIG. 4 , the second lightguide portion 2 includes at least two light guide bars 21. The two lightguide bars 21 may be formed by directly cutting a layered portion by acutter. Then, each light guide bar is turned over to change the lightguide bar from extending in the second direction Y to extending in thefirst direction X, so as to obtain the light guide layer 10 shown inFIG. 2A.

It is worth noting that, referring to FIG. 4 , in a case where theedge-lit light source includes only a single light guide layer 10, thelight exit surface 12 of the first light guide portion 1 of the lightguide layer 10 is matched and aligned with a side surface of a lightguide plate 500 (or display panel 400). And the second light guideportion 2 of the light guide layer 10 is divided into five light guidebars 21 with an equal width, and the five light guide bars 21 are bentin the above way to correspond to a same LED light (i.e. thelight-emitting element). In this case, brightness of five points c1 toc5 are respectively extracted in the first direction X in a display areaAA, and brightness uniformity of the five points is greater than 95%.Therefore, it may be proved that it is almost no effect on thebrightness uniformity of the display area AA after the second lightguide portion 2 of the light guide layer 10 is cut.

The number of divisions of the second light guide portion 2 of eachlight guide layer 10 (i.e., the number of light guide bars 21) may bedetermined by a height of the light-emitting surface of thelight-emitting element 20. For example, in a case where a light-emittingsurface of each light-emitting element 20 faces light incidentsub-surfaces of a single light-guide layer 10, the number of divisions(i.e., the number of light guide bars 21) may increase as a height ofthe light-emitting surface of the light-emitting element 20 increases.It will be understood that a thickness of each light guide bar 10 isfixed, so that the more the number of the light guide bars 21 is, thethicker a whole thickness of the light guide bars 21 after beingsuperposed is, and the whole thickness of the light guide bars 21 afterbeing superposed corresponds to the height of the light-emitting surfaceof the light-emitting element 20. Therefore, the whole thickness of thelight guide bars 21 after being superposed may be the same as or closeto the height of the light-emitting surface of the light-emittingelement 20 by reasonably setting the number of the light guide bars 21.Based on this, a width of each light guide bar 21 (i.e., a dimension ofeach light guide bar 21 in the first direction X before being turnedover) may be set according to a width of the light-emitting surface ofthe light-emitting element 20, so that the light-emitting surface of thelight-emitting element 20 may be more sufficiently attached to the lightincident sub-surfaces b of the turned-over light guide bars 21 of eachlight guide layer 10.

For example, referring to FIG. 5 , in an example, the height h2 of thelight-emitting element 20 is 0.6 mm, and the width d2 of thelight-emitting element 20 is 3.8 mm, the thickness of a single lightguide layer may be 50 μm, and the material of which may include PC. Inthis case, the second light guide portion 2 of the light guide layer 10is equally divided into ten parts, and a width d1 of each part (e.g., d1shown in FIGS. 2B, 3A, and 4 ) is 3.8 mm, that is, d1 is equal to d2(d1=d2). In this way, after the light guide bars 21 are bent and fittedto the light-emitting element 20, it is possible to ensure that thelight-emitting element 20 does not leak light in a width direction.Furthermore, the ten light guide bars 21 are bent sequentially and thenarranged in a stack, and a total thickness h1 (e.g., h1 shown in FIG.3A) of which is equal to 50 μm×10=500 μm, i.e., 0.5 mm, and 0.5 mm isless than 0.6 mm (that is, h1 is less than h2), so that after the lightguide layer 10 is aligned with the light-emitting element 20 (e.g., thealignment and installation are realized by a mechanical structure), itmay ensure that light rays transmitted by the light-emitting element 20all enter the inside of the light guide layer 10.

In addition, if a case where the single light guide layer 10 is matchedwith a single light-emitting element 20 cannot meet high-brightnessdisplay requirements, the single light guide layer 10 may be matchedwith more light-emitting elements 20; alternatively, a structure of aplurality of light guide layers 10 arranged in a stack shown in FIGS. 2Band 3B may be selected.

In the structure of the plurality of light guide layers 10 arranged in astack, referring to FIGS. 2B and 3B, alignment with the respectivelight-emitting elements 20 may be achieved by setting the light guidelayers 10 to have different lengths. In addition, the number oflight-emitting elements 20 may be flexibly selected by setting thenumber of the light guide layers.

In a case where the edge-lit light source includes at least two lightguide layers 10 arranged in a stack, for example, as shown in FIG. 3B,the edge-lit light source further includes a laminating adhesive 30disposed between two adjacent light guide layers 10, and a refractiveindex of the laminating adhesive 30 is substantially the same as arefractive index of the light guide layers 10. Here, “substantially thesame” may mean that the refractive indexes of the two are equal;alternatively, a difference between the refractive indexes of the two isless than one-eighth of a refractive index of a larger one of the tworefractive indexes. In this example, two adjacent light guide layers 10may be relatively fixed, which improves connection stability andreliability between the two adjacent light guide layers 10, and thearrangement of the laminating adhesive 30 does not easily affect thelight rays in the two adjacent light guide layers 10, and the light raysmay still achieve total reflection in the light guide layers 10 arrangedin a stack. In addition, in some other examples, the laminating adhesive30 may not be disposed between two adjacent light guide layers 10. Inthis case, it is easier for the light rays to achieve total reflectionin the light guide layers 10 arranged in a stack.

In some embodiments, the laminating adhesive 30 is a reflectiveadhesive. In this case, the light rays in light guide layers 10 will notinterfere with each other.

In addition, in a case where the extending portions 212 of the lightguide layer 10 are arranged in a stack, any two adjacent extendingportions 212 may be provided with a laminating adhesive 30 therebetween.In addition, the refractive index of the laminating adhesive 30 locatedbetween any two adjacent extending portions 212 may be set to besubstantially the same as a refractive index of the extending portions212; alternatively, the laminating adhesive 30 may be set to be areflective adhesive. Beneficial effects of providing the laminatingadhesive 30 between two adjacent extending portions 212 are the same asbeneficial effects of providing the laminating adhesive 30 between twoadjacent light guide layers 10, which will not be repeated herein.

In some embodiments, referring to FIGS. 2B and 3B, the number of thelight guide layers 10 is at least two, and the second light guideportions 2 of the light guide layers 10 are disposed in the seconddirection Y in sequence. With such an arrangement, each light guidelayer 10 is easy to be installed in alignment with correspondinglight-emitting element(s) 20, and the entire edge-lit light source 100has a neat structure while meeting the high-brightness requirements,which is conducive to realizing miniaturization, and is furtherconvenient to be installed in the display device, and the narrow bezeldesign is realized while making the display device less prone to hotspotdefects.

For example, the second direction Y is perpendicular to the thicknessdirection of the first light guide portion 1, and perpendicular to theinterface M between the first light guide portion 1 and the second lightguide portion 2.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3C to 3E, the edge-lit lightsource 100 further includes a light-guide-layer shaping member 101, andthe light-guide-layer shaping member 101 has a first main surface S101-1and a second main surface S101-2 that are opposite to each other, and aplurality of communication slots 1011 penetrating the first main surfaceS101-1 and the second main surface S101-2. As shown in FIG. 3F, eachbending portion 211 of the light guide layer passes through acommunication slot 1011, so that each extending portion 212 of the lightguide layer is proximate to the first main surface, and the first lightguide portion 1 of the light guide layer is proximate to the second mainsurface. With such an arrangement, the light-guide-layer shaping member101 may be used to support the light guide layer to a certain extent, sothat the overall structure of the light guide layer is stable.

For example, referring to FIGS. 3C and 3D, the plurality ofcommunication slots 1011 are parallel to each other. With such a design,it is conducive to making the extending portions 212 extend in a samedirection.

FIG. 3E shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the communication slot1011 in FIG. 3D taken along the direction A-A′. For example, referringto FIGS. 3E and 3F, a side wall w of the communication slot 1011 isarc-shaped. The bending portion 211 passes through the communicatingslot 1011 and attaches to the arc-shaped side wall w, so that a bendingdegree of the bending portion 211 does not destroy the total reflectionstate of light rays therein. For example, in a case where the bendingportion 211 is attached to the side wall w, a bending radius of thebending portion 211 is not less than its own thickness. With such adesign, the leakage of the light rays at the bending portion 211 may beprevented, and the light guide efficiency of the light guide layer 10may be improved.

With continued reference to FIG. 3E, another side wall of thecommunication slot 1011 (i.e., a side wall opposite to the side wall wof the communication slot 1011) may be set to any shape. For example,the another side wall may be set as a plane as shown in FIG. 3E. Basedon this, an end of the another side wall located at an opening of thecommunication slot 1011 may be set to be a curved surface, so that theextending portion 212 and the bending portion 211 are not easilyscratched by the another side wall of the communication slot 1011 whenpass through the communication slot 1011.

In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 3G, the edge-lit light sourcefurther includes a first reflective adhesive 601 and/or a secondreflective adhesive 602.

The first reflective adhesive 601 is disposed between the first mainsurface S101-1 of a light-guide-layer shaping member 101 and anextending portion 212 of the light guide layer closest to the first mainsurface S101-1. With such an arrangement, the extending portion 212 maybe attached to the first main surface S101-1 of the light-guide-layershaping member 101 and the light rays may be reflected by the firstreflective adhesive 601. That is, by providing the first reflectiveadhesive 601, the extending portion 212 is fixed, and the light rays inthe extending portion 212 are not easily extracted into thelight-guide-layer shaping member 101.

The second reflective adhesive 602 is disposed between the second mainsurface S101-2 of the light-guide-layer shaping member 101 and the firstlight guide portion 1 of the light guide layer. With such anarrangement, at least a portion of the first light guide portion 1(i.e., a region of the first light guide portion 1 proximate to thesecond main surface) is attached to the second main surface S101-2 ofthe light-guide-layer shaping member 101, and the light rays may bereflected by the second reflective adhesive 602. That is, by providingthe second reflective adhesive 602, the at least a portion of the firstlight guide portion 1 is fixed, and the light rays in the at least aportion of the first light guide portion 1 is not easily extracted intothe light-guide-layer shaping member 101.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the light-guide-layershaping member 101 includes first groove(s) 1012 and a second groove1013 located in the first main surface, and the second groove 1013 islocated on a side of the first groove(s) 1012. Referring to FIG. 3F, theextending portions 212 of the light guide layer is located in a firstgroove 1012, and the at least one light-emitting element 20 is locatedin the second groove 1013. With such a design, the extending portions212 of the light guide layer may be accommodated by the first groove1012, and the at least one light-emitting element 20 may be accommodatedby the second groove 1013. Furthermore, the light-emitting surface ofeach light-emitting element 20 in the second groove 1013 may face alight incident sub-surface of a corresponding extending portion 212 inthe first groove 1012.

Based on this, for example, referring to FIG. 3C, a bottom wall of thefirst groove 1012 is stepped. With such a design, the extending portion212 of each light guide layer is easily contacted with the bottom wallof the first groove 1012 after the bending portion is bent.

For example, referring to FIG. 3C, the edge-lit light source furtherincludes a first cover body 102 covering the first groove(s) 1012 andthe second groove 1013. With such an arrangement, the extending portions212 of the light guide layer may be limited in the first groove 1012,and the at least one light-emitting element 20 may be limited in thesecond groove 1013. That is, all extending portions 212 and the at leastone light-emitting element 20 may be limited in a region between thelight-guide-layer shaping member 101 and the first cover body 102.

The first cover body 102 and the light-guide-layer shaping member 101may be detachably connected or fixedly connected, which is not limitedin the present disclosure, as long as the two may be relatively fixed.

For example, referring to FIGS. 3H and 3I, the first cover body 102 andthe second light guide portion 2 of the light guide layer have a gaptherebetween. With such a design, the second light guide portion 2 isnot in direct contact with the first cover body 102 (e.g., which may beinsulated by air), so that light rays inside the second light guideportion 2 are not easily extracted into the first cover body 102.

In some embodiments, referring to FIGS. 3C and 3F, the light-guide-layershaping member 101 further includes a third groove 1014 disposed in thesecond main surface, the at least a portion of the first light guideportion 1 (i.e., the region of the first light guide portion 1 proximateto the second main surface) is located in the third groove 1014. Withsuch a design, the third groove 1014 may be used to accommodate theportion of the first light guide portion 1.

With continued reference to FIG. 3F, in some other embodiments, thefirst light guide portion 1 further includes the other portion locatedoutside the third groove 1014, and an end of the other portion of thefirst light guide portion 1 (i.e., the light exit surface of theedge-lit light source) may be disposed opposite to the side surface ofthe light guide plate 500 (or display panel 400), so that the light raysmay be directed to the light guide plate 500 (or display panel 400).

The other portion of the first light guide portion 1 may be set in aplane shape as shown in FIG. 3F, or may be set in a bent shape. Forexample, by bending the other portion of the first light guide portion1, the light-guide-layer shaping member 101 may be located under thelight guide plate 500 (or display panel 400), so that a space occupiedby the edge-lit light source on a peripheral side of the light guideplate 500 (or display panel 400) may be reduced.

Based on this, for example, referring to FIG. 3C, the edge-lit lightsource further includes a second cover body 103 covering the thirdgroove 1014. With such an arrangement, the portion of the first lightguide portion 1 may be limited in the third groove 1014. That is, theportion of the first light guide portion 1 may be limited in a regionbetween the light-guide-layer shaping member 101 and the second coverbody 103.

The second cover body 103 and the light-guide-layer shaping member 101may be detachably connected or fixedly connected, which is not limitedin the present disclosure, as long as the two may be relatively fixed.

For example, referring to FIGS. 3H and 3I, the second cover body 103 andthe first light guide portion 1 of the light guide layer have a gaptherebetween. With such a design, the first light guide portion 1 is notin direct contact with the second cover body 103 (e.g., which may beinsulated by air), so that light rays inside the first light guideportion 1 are not easily extracted into the second cover body 103.

It will be noted that in some other embodiments, the light-guide-layershaping member 101 may include all the first groove(s) 1012, the secondgroove 1013 and the third groove 1014. Beneficial effects of providingthe first groove(s) 1012, the second groove 1013 and the third groove1014 will not be repeated herein.

Based on this, for example, the edge-lit light source may include boththe first cover body 102 and second cover body 103. Beneficial effectsof providing the first cover body 102 and the second cover body 103 willnot be repeated herein. Here, it is worth noting that, in a case wherethe edge-lit light source includes both the first cover body 102 and thesecond cover body 103, the second groove 1013 for accommodating the atleast one light-emitting element 20 may be provided as a through slotwithout a bottom wall, in this case, the first cover body 102 and thesecond cover body 103 may be used together to limit the at least onelight-emitting element 20 in the second groove 1013.

The light-guide-layer shaping member 101, the first cover body 102 andthe second cover body 103 may all be made of opaque materials, so thatthe light rays may be well limited between the light-guide-layer shapingmember 101 and the first cover body 102 and between thelight-guide-layer shaping member 101 and the second cover body 103, soas to prevent light leakage problem.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, the first light guide portion1 includes a first portion 10A having the light exit surface 12, and asecond portion 10B located between the first portion 10A and the secondlight guide portion 2 and having a bent shape.

The bending region N of the light guide layer 10 further includes thesecond portion 10B of the first light guide portion 1 of the light guidelayer 10.

With such an arrangement, it is conducive to increasing the scatteringeffect of the light rays in the light guide layer 10, so that the lightrays may be fully mixed in the light guide layer 10 and then exit, whichis conducive to ameliorating the hotspot phenomenon.

For example, a bending degree of the second portion 10B is configured soas not to destroy a total reflection state of light rays therein. Forexample, a bending radius of the second portion 10B may be set not lessthan its own thickness, which may prevent the total reflection state ofthe light rays in the second portion 10B from being broken, so thatleakage of the light rays in the second portion 10B may be prevented,and light guide efficiency of the second portion 10B is improved.

Based on the above-mentioned embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG.3A, the first light guide portion 1 further includes a third portion 10Clocated between the second portion 10B and the second light guideportion 2. The third portion 10C and the first third portion 10A aresubstantially parallel to each other, and the third portion 10C and thefirst portion 10A are located on a same side of the second portion 10Bproximate to the second light guide portion 2. Here, “substantiallyparallel” means that the third portion 10C and the first portion 10A maybe parallel or may have a certain deviation. For example, a plane wherethe third portion 10C is located and a plane where the first portion 10Ais located may have an included angle within 10 degrees therebetween.

With such a design, when the light exit surface 12 of each light guidelayer 10 is matched and aligned with the side surface of the light guideplate (or display panel), the second light guide portion 2 of each lightguide layer may extend to below the light guide plate (or displaypanel). In this way, it is conducive to reducing the space occupied bythe edge-lit light source on the peripheral side of the light guideplate (or display panel), which is further conducive to realizing thenarrow bezel design of the display device adopting the edge-lit lightsource.

It will be noted that each light guide layer in the edge-lit lightsource 100 may include only the first light guide portion 1, or mayinclude only the second light guide portion 2, or may include both thefirst light guide portion 1 and the second light guide portion 2. Thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 6 , the edge-lit light source 100further includes a reflective coating 40 disposed on an exposed surfaceof the at least one light guide layer 10. For example, the reflectivecoating 40 may be white adhesive. With such a design, the light rays inthe light guide layer 10 may be reflected by the reflective coating 40,so that the light rays is totally reflected in the light guide layer 10.It will be noted that FIG. 6 only illustrates by considering an examplewhere the edge-lit light source 100 includes a single light guide layer.It will be understood that in a case where the edge-lit light source 100includes two or more light guide layers 10, the reflective coating maybe provided on an exposed surface of the two or more light guide layers10 as a whole after overlapping.

In addition, it is worth noting that, for the second portion 10B of theand the bending portions 211 of the second light guide portion 2, thelight rays are relatively easily refracted from the bent second portion10B of the first light guide portion 1 or the bending portions 211 ofthe second light guide portion 2 to the outside of the light guide layer10 (e.g., in a case where the bending radius of the second portion 10Bof the first light guide portion 1 is less than its own thickness, thelight rays are easily refracted from the second portion 10B of the firstlight guide portion 1 to the outside of the light guide layer 10; in acase where the bending radius of each bending portion 211 is less thanits own thickness, the light rays are easily refracted from the bendingportion 211 to the outside of the light guide layer 10). In some of theabove-mentioned embodiments, by providing the reflective coating 40 onthe exposed surface of the at least one light guide layer 10, lightleakage may be prevented (e.g., even in a case where the bending radiusof the second portion 10B of the first light guide portion 1 is lessthan its own thickness, light leakage from the bent second portion 10Bof the first light guide portion 1 to the outside of the light guidelayer 10 may be prevented well by the reflective coating 40; andsimilarly, even in a case where the bending radius of each bendingportion 211 is less than its own thickness, light leakage from thebending portion 211 to the outside of the light guide layer 10 may beprevented well by the reflective coating 40), so that it is conducive toensuring an amount of light rays emitted from the light-emitting surface12 of the light guide layer 10.

In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 6 , the edge-lit light source 100further includes a light-absorbing coating 50 disposed on a surface ofthe reflective coating 40 away from the at least one light guide layer10. For example, the light-absorbing coating 50 may be black adhesive.With such a design, even in a case where the light rays passes throughthe reflective coating 40, it will be blocked and absorbed by thelight-absorbing coating 50. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent thelight rays from leaking and irradiating other components in the displaydevice, so that the other components are less likely to be affected.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a backlight module200. Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the backlight module 200 includes thelight guide plate 500 and the above-mentioned edge-lit light source 100.The light exit surface of the edge-lit light source 100 faces at least aportion of the side surface of the light guide plate 500 (e.g., thelight exit surface may face a portion of the side surface of the lightguide plate 500, or may face a whole side surface of the light guideplate 500).

The backlight module 200 includes the edge-lit light source 100 asdescribed in any one of the above embodiments, so that the backlightmodule 200 has all beneficial effects of the edge-lit light source 100as described above, which will not be repeated herein.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display device 300.As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7C, the display device 300 includes a displaypanel 400 and the above-mentioned edge-lit light source 100, the lightexit surface of the edge-lit light source 100 faces at least a portionof the side surface of the display panel 400 (e.g., the light exitsurface may face a portion of the side surface of the display panel 400,or may face a whole side surface of the display panel 400). For example,the display panel 400 may be a transparent display panel. Thetransparent display panel may include an optical waveguide layer. Inthis case, a side surface of the optical waveguide layer may be used toreceive light rays emitted from the edge-lit light source 100, and thelight may be totally reflected in the optical waveguide layer.

Since the display device 300 includes the edge-lit light source 100 asdescribed in any one of the above embodiments, so that the displaydevice 300 has all beneficial effects of the edge-lit light source 100as described above, which will not be repeated herein.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display device300A, as shown in FIG. 7D, the display device 300A includes the displaypanel 400 and the backlight module as described above. Two oppositesides of the display panel 400 are a display side Q1 and a non-displayside Q2 respectively. The backlight module 200 is disposed on thenon-display side of the display panel 400.

The display device 300A includes the edge-lit light source 100 asdescribed in any one of the above embodiments, so that the displaydevice 300A has all beneficial effects of the edge-lit light source 100as described above, which will not be repeated herein.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display device300B, as shown in FIG. 7E, the display device 300B includes the displaypanel 400 and the backlight module as described above. The two oppositesides of the display panel 400 are the display side Q1 and thenon-display side Q2 respectively. The light guide plate 500 in thebacklight module 200 is disposed on the display side Q1 of the displaypanel 400, and the edge-lit light source 100 of the backlight module 200extends to the non-display side Q2 of the display panel 400.

In this case, the display panel 400 is a reflective display panel. Forexample, a reflective layer is disposed in a region of the display panel400 proximate to the non-display side Q2, so that the light raysincident on the display panel 400 from the light guide plate 500 may bereflected to the display side Q1 of the display panel 400, so as todisplay an image.

The display device 300B includes the edge-lit light source 100 asdescribed in any one of the above embodiments, so that the displaydevice 300B has all beneficial effects of the edge-lit light source 100as described above, which will not be repeated herein.

In addition, it will be noted that the edge-lit light source 100included in any one of the above-mentioned display devices shown inFIGS. 7A to 7E may be provided with the above-mentionedlight-guide-layer shaping member 101, the first cover body 102 and thesecond cover body 103. For example, on the basis of the display device300A shown in FIG. 7D, referring to FIG. 7F, the light-guide-layershaping member 101, the first cover body 102 and the second cover body103 are provided. In this way, the second light guide portion of eachlight guide layer in the edge-lit light source 100 may be fixed, so thatthe second light guide portion is not easily deformed, and in turn,stability of propagation of the light rays in each second light guideportion is improved. That is, a phenomenon of light leakage due to thedeformation of the second light guide portion is less likely to occur.

The above description only takes the display device 300A as an example.It will be understood that the edge-lit light source 100 in any one ofthe backlight module 200, the display device 300 and the display device300B may include the light-guide-layer shaping member 101, the firstcover body 102 and the second cover body 103, and may achieve the samebeneficial effects as the display device 300A, which will not berepeated herein.

Anyone of the display device 300, the display device 300A and thedisplay device 300B may be any component with a display function such asa television, a digital camera, a mobile phone, a watch, a tabletcomputer, a notebook computer or a navigator.

The above-mentioned display panel 400 may be a liquid crystal displaypanel. For example, the liquid crystal display panel may be any one of atwisted nematic (TN) display panel, an in-plane switching (IPS) displaypanel and a vertical alignment (VA) display panel.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8 , the display panel 400 includesan array substrate 41, an opposite substrate 42, and a liquid crystallayer 43 disposed between the array substrate 41 and the oppositesubstrate 42.

As shown in FIG. 8 , each sub-pixel in the array substrate 41 has a thinfilm transistor 411 and a pixel electrode 412 that are located on afirst substrate 410. The thin film transistor 411 includes an activelayer, a source, a drain, a gate, and a portion of a gate insulatinglayer. The source and the drain are in contact with the active layer,and the pixel electrode 412 is electrically connected to the drain ofthe thin film transistor 411.

In some examples, as shown in FIG. 8 , the array substrate 41 furtherincludes a common electrode 413 disposed on the first substrate 410. Thepixel electrode 412 and the common electrode 413 may be disposed in asame layer, and in this case, the pixel electrode 412 and the commonelectrode 413 are both a comb-tooth structure including a plurality ofstrip-shaped sub-electrodes. Alternatively, the pixel electrode 412 andthe common electrode 413 may be disposed in different layers, and inthis case, as shown in FIG. 8 , a first insulating layer 414 is providedbetween the pixel electrode 412 and the common electrode 413. In a casewhere the common electrode 413 is disposed between the thin filmtransistor 411 and the pixel electrode 412, as shown in FIG. 8 , asecond insulating layer 415 is provided between the common electrode 413and the thin film transistor 411. In some other embodiments, theopposite substrate 42 includes the common electrode 413.

As shown in FIG. 8 , the opposite substrate 42 includes a color filterlayer 421 disposed on a second substrate 420. In this case, the oppositesubstrate 42 may be referred to as a color filter (CF) substrate. Thecolor filter layer 421 includes at least red photoresist units, greenphotoresist units and blue photoresist units, and the red photoresistunits, the green photoresist units and the blue photoresist units aredirectly opposite to the sub-pixels in the array substrate 41 in aone-to-one correspondence. The opposite substrate 42 further includes ablack matrix pattern 422 disposed on the second substrate 420. The blackmatrix pattern 422 is used for separating the red photoresist units, thegreen photoresist units, and the blue photoresist units.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8 , the liquid crystal display panel 400further includes a first polarizer 44 disposed on a side of the oppositesubstrate 42 away from the liquid crystal layer 43, and a secondpolarizer 45 disposed on a side of the array substrate 41 away from theliquid crystal layer 43.

The foregoing descriptions are merely specific implementations of thepresent disclosure, but the protection scope of the present disclosureis not limited thereto. Any changes or replacements that a personskilled in the art could readily conceive of within the technical scopeof the present disclosure shall be included in the protection scope ofthe present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosureshall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An edge-lit light source, comprising: at leasttwo light guide layers arranged in a stack; side surfaces of each lightguide layer including a light incident surface and a light exit surface,and the light guide layer including a bending region located between thelight incident surface and the light exit surface; and one or morelight-emitting elements, a light-emitting surface of each light-emittingelement facing a light incident surface of at least one light guidelayer; wherein the light guide layer includes: a first light guideportion and a second light guide portion connected to each other, an endsurface of the first light guide portion away from the second lightguide portion being the light exit surface, wherein the second lightguide portion includes at least two light guide bars; each light guidebar includes a bending portion connected to the first light guideportion and an extending portion connected to the bending portion, asurface of the extending portion opposite to an end of the extendingportion connected to the bending portion is a light incidentsub-surface; and the light-emitting surface of each light-emittingelement faces at least one light incident sub-surface; and the bendingregion of the light guide layer includes all of the bending portions ofthe light guide layer; wherein second light guide portions of the atleast two light guide layers are arranged in sequence in a seconddirection, and the second direction is perpendicular to a thicknessdirection of the first light guide portion.
 2. The edge-lit light sourceaccording to claim 1, wherein the bending portions of the light guidelayer are arranged in sequence in a first direction, the first directionis perpendicular to a thickness direction of the first light guideportion; and the extending portions of the light guide layer extend inthe first direction, and the extending portions are arranged in a stack.3. The edge-lit light source according to claim 2, wherein of the one ormore light-emitting elements, at least one light-emitting elementcorresponding to the light guide layer is disposed on a side of thelight guide layer in the first direction.
 4. The edge-lit light sourceaccording to claim 2, wherein of the one or more light-emittingelements, at least one light-emitting element corresponding to a samelight guide layer is located on a same side of the same light guidelayer in the first direction; and of the same light guide layer, bendingradiuses of bending portions sequentially increase in a direction from aside of a second light guide portion proximate to the correspondinglight-emitting element to a side of the second light guide portion awayfrom the corresponding light-emitting element.
 5. The edge-lit lightsource according to claim 2, wherein the extending portions of the lightguide layer are located on at least one side of the first light guideportion in a thickness direction of the first light guide portion. 6.The edge-lit light source according to claim 2, wherein the extendingportions of the light guide layer are located on a same side of thefirst light guide portion in a thickness direction of the first lightguide portion, and the light incident sub-surfaces of the extendingportions constitute the light incident surface of the light guide layer;and the light incident surface is located on a side of two oppositesides of the first light guide portion in the first direction, and thelight incident surface faces a light-emitting surface of a singlelight-emitting element of the one or more light-emitting elements. 7.The edge-lit light source according to claim 1, further comprising: alight-guide-layer shaping member, the light-guide-layer shaping memberhaving a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to eachother, and a plurality of communication slots penetrating through thefirst main surface and the second main surface, wherein each bendingportion of the light guide layer passes through a single communicationslot of the plurality of communication slots, the extending portions ofthe light guide layer are proximate to the first main surface, and thefirst light guide portion of the light guide layer is proximate to thesecond main surface.
 8. The edge-lit light source according to claim 7,wherein a single side wall of the communication slot is arc-shaped; andthe bending portion passes through the communication slot and attachesto the arc-shaped side wall, and is configured to have a bending degreecapable of keeping a total reflection state of light rays inside thebending portion.
 9. The edge-lit light source according to claim 7,further comprising: a first reflective adhesive disposed between thefirst main surface and an extending portion of the light guide layerclosest to the first main surface; and/or a second reflective adhesivedisposed between the second main surface and the first light guideportion.
 10. The edge-lit light source according to claim 7, wherein thelight-guide-layer shaping member includes: at least one first groove anda second groove disposed in the first main surface, the second groovebeing located on a side of the at least one first groove; the extendingportions of the light guide layer being located in a first groove of theat least one first groove, and the one or more light-emitting elementsbeing located in the second groove; and/or a third groove disposed inthe second main surface, and at least a portion of the first light guideportion being located in the third groove.
 11. The edge-lit light sourceaccording to claim 10, further comprising: a first cover body coveringthe at least one first groove and the second groove; and/or a secondcover body covering the third groove.
 12. The edge-lit light sourceaccording to claim 11, wherein the first cover body and the second lightguide portion of the light guide layer have a gap therebetween; and/orthe second cover body and the first light guide portion of the lightguide layer have another gap therebetween.
 13. The edge-lit light sourceaccording to claim 1, wherein the first light guide portion includes: afirst portion having the light exit surface; and a second portionlocated between the first portion and the second light guide portion andin a bent shape, wherein the bending region of the light guide layerfurther includes the second portion of the first light guide portion ofthe light guide layer.
 14. The edge-lit light source according to claim13, wherein the first light guide portion further includes: a thirdportion located between the second portion and the second light guideportion, the third portion and the first portion are substantiallyparallel to each other, and the third portion and the first portion arelocated on a same side of the second portion proximate to the secondlight guide portion; and/or the edge-lit light source further comprises:a laminating adhesive disposed between two adjacent light guide layers,wherein a refractive index of the laminating adhesive is substantiallysame as a refractive index of the two adjacent light guide layers; orthe laminating adhesive is a reflective adhesive.
 15. The edge-lit lightsource according to claim 1, further comprising: a reflective coatingdisposed on an exposed surface of the bending region; or the reflectivecoating disposed on the exposed surface of the bending region, and alight-absorbing coating disposed on a surface of the reflective coatingaway from the exposed surface.
 16. A backlight module, comprising: alight guide plate; and the edge-lit light source according to claim 1, alight exit surface of the edge-lit light source being matched with atleast a portion of a side surface of the light guide plate, and thelight exit surface of the edge-lit light source facing the at least aportion of the side surface of the light guide plate, wherein the lightexit surface of the edge-lit light source includes the light exitsurface of the light guide layer.
 17. A display device, comprising: adisplay panel, two opposite sides of the display panel being a displayside and a non-display side respectively; and the backlight moduleaccording to claim 16, wherein the backlight module is disposed on thenon-display side of the display panel; or the light guide plate in thebacklight module is disposed on the display side of the display panel,and the edge-lit light source in the backlight module extends to thenon-display side of the display panel.
 18. A display device, comprising:a display panel; and the edge-lit light source according to claim 1, alight exit surface of the edge-lit light source being matched with atleast a portion of a side surface of the display panel, and the lightexit surface of the edge-lit light source facing the at least a portionof the side surface of the display panel, wherein the light exit surfaceof the edge-lit light source includes the light exit surface of thelight guide layer.